Meta Platforms, the parent company behind Facebook and Instagram, is facing a class-action lawsuit in Australia that alleges children were exposed to harmful content and were encouraged to engage in addictive patterns of use using its social media sites. The case is being filed in the Federal Court of Australia and seeks damages for people who say they were harmed by using Facebook or Instagram as children or teenagers.
The lawsuit is filed on behalf of eight plaintiffs who say they have been harmed in relation to using Facebook and Instagram before hitting 18. That’s an important legal test in Australia for social media platforms’ potential to impact young users with their platform designs.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment when the lawsuit was reported.
The legal action is in response to increasing international scrutiny of social media companies regarding children’s online safety, mental health and the design features used to keep users engaged.
What Does the Lawsuit Allege Against Meta?
The class action claims that Facebook and Instagram exposed young users to harmful content and used algorithms and platform features that encouraged prolonged or addictive use.
Based on the interests of users and previous activity, social media platforms use recommendation systems to suggest content based on users' interests. This can affect what users see in their feeds and how long they stay on an app.
The plaintiffs’ allegations raise questions about whether such features can contribute to harmful patterns of use among children and teenagers, whose behaviour and emotional development may make them particularly vulnerable to certain online experiences.
The case also focuses on what Meta knew about potential risks to young users and how its platforms were designed and operated.
But the allegations have not been established in court. A lawsuit’s outcome will be determined by the legal arguments, the evidence and the court’s assessment of the claims.
Eight Plaintiffs Seek Compensation
The case is on behalf of eight plaintiffs who say they were harmed when using Meta’s platforms as children. They seek compensation through the legal process.
A court suppression order earlier in the week bars the publication of information that could identify the applicants or reveal the statement of claims. So some of the individual allegations and the plaintiffs' identities cannot be reported.
The restrictions are to prevent publication of protected information while the legal process continues.
It’s a case that will have an impact on the law because it is meant to address alleged harm in a collective legal suit, rather than forcing everyone affected to bring a separate claim. Class actions can bring out the same claims against a company.
And the proceedings may also help to shed a lot more light on how social media platforms are designed for younger audiences and what technology companies are to do with them.
Australia's ever-growing scrutiny of social media platforms.
The suit comes as Australia is stepping up protection for children online.
The country has also placed a minimum-age restriction on social media platforms covered by the regulation that requires companies to take reasonable measures to prevent children under 16 from becoming involved. And the new age verification and compliance regulations were implemented in December 2025 and have put big tech companies in even more danger of falling short in terms of age verification and compliance.
Australian authorities have also studied whether platforms are doing enough to prevent underage users from accessing their services.
Such regulations are separate from the new class action lawsuit against Meta. The age restrictions concern compliance with Australia’s online safety laws, but the lawsuit alleges that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users through content and design.
Together, these developments are part of a wider debate over how governments should balance access to digital services and the need to protect children from potential online risks.
Meta faces legal pressure in the United States too.
Meta also has lawsuits in the U.S. where social media platforms were accused of promoting excessive use among children and teenagers.
In August 2026, Meta reached an $18 billion settlement with almost all states to resolve accusations that its platforms were designed to addict children. Such settlements do not necessarily constitute an admission of wrongdoing.
The Australian case is just the latest legal battle and government, families and other groups continue to question the roles of large technology companies.
Legal proceedings in different countries might address similar matters but their outcome is based on the laws, evidence and claims in each jurisdiction.
What could happen in this case for Facebook and Instagram?
The Australian class action could also help to open up a wider debate on social media companies’ accountability and the safeguards they provide to younger users.
If the case proceeds, the court might examine the alleged relationship between platform design, user engagement and the harm claimed by the plaintiffs. The proceedings might also bring attention to the information companies have available about potential risks and the steps taken to address them.
Meta’s case adds to the legal and regulatory pressure on their services. And other technology companies could be watching closely as parents and lawmakers consider stronger rules for children’s use of social media.
At this stage no court decision has been made that Meta is liable for the alleged harm in this Australian case. Meta will be able to respond to the claims in the legal process.
The proceedings will likely be at the heart of the continuing debate on children’s online safety and social media design and technology platforms’ responsibility to protect younger users.
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